By Ayomide Otitoju
Fatima Radda, wife of Katsina State Governor, on Wednesday donated ₦10 million to cancer patients at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, in observance of World Cancer Day.
The event, themed “United By Unique: Placing People at The Heart of Cancer Care”, brought together patients, healthcare professionals, and state officials.
Speaking at the event, State Health Commissioner Musa Adamu commended Radda’s contribution, noting the state’s 70 per cent budget implementation for healthcare infrastructure and staff training. He added that Katsina provides broad access to healthcare through the Katsina State Health Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KATCHIMA) and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), reflecting the government’s strong commitment to combating cancer.
During the sensitisation segment, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Shamsuddeen Yahaya, highlighted the global burden of cancer, with 20 million affected and 10 million deaths annually. He expressed optimism that the state’s new Cancer Centre will improve patient access to screening and care. Yahaya also cited major cancer risk factors, including unhealthy lifestyle, cigarette smoking, Human Papilloma Virus, Hepatitis, and high body fat.
In his welcome remarks, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Nasiru Aliyu, represented by Ibrahim Salisu, thanked Hajiya Radda for the donation, saying it would help ease patients’ financial burdens. He added that cancer cases at the hospital are gradually increasing, but the facility remains committed to providing high-quality care.
